With the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to add elite talent to their organization this offseason, a trade for Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts seemed like the most likely scenario.
The Red Sox have a desire of cutting payroll and Betts is set to hit free agency in a year, making him their biggest trade piece. The Dodgers have also been in contact with the Cleveland Indians for star shortstop Francisco Lindor, but it was recently reported their talks with the Red Sox were ‘more dynamic.’
One reason for that could be the potential to pair Betts with David Price in a trade. Price still has three years and $96 million remaining on his contract, but the Dodgers may be willing to take on some or most of that if it meant acquiring a player of Betts’ caliber.
It doesn’t seem that the Red Sox have any interest in that though as David Vassegh reported on AM 570 LA Sports, they have no intention of trading Betts at all, even if Price’s contract is attached:
“The Red Sox, from what I was told right before Christmas from somebody pretty high up in their organization, they have no intention of trading Mookie Betts before the season begins. They would have to be blown away by an offer to trade Mookie Betts; even if they were to attach David Price. That is not something that is appealing to the Red Sox at this point in time.”
This adds to a previous report that indicated the Red Sox weren’t motivated to trade Betts even though he’d already rejected multiple contract extension offers.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten recently said the organization plans to go over the luxury tax threshold in 2020, which left fans hopeful about a potential deal for Betts and Price, considering there aren’t many options remaining on the free-agent market.
If Betts is not an option, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers front office will have their work cut out for them if they want to add the upper-echelon talent that they have been referring to since the beginning of the offseason.
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